Fence



(N'o Model.)

` E. .l WELDS.

FENCE.

10.400,377. Paten-tea Mar. 26, 1889.

ATENT Critica.

EDVARD A. VELDS, OF READING, MICHIGAN.

FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent No. 400,377, dated March 26, 1889.

Application filed January l0, 1889. Serial No. 296,005. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. VVELDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Reading, in the county of Hillsdale and State of Michigan, have invented new andiuseful Improvements in Fences, of which the following is a specification.'

My invention relates to that class of fences wherein the sections are strengthened and braced by wires, and the purpose thereof is to provide means whereby the trussing or supporting tension of such wires may be greatly increased in order'to produce a stiff and firm structure.

The invention consists in the several novel features of construction and -new combinations of parts hereinafter fully set forth, and then definitely pointed out in the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Flgure 1 is a side elevation of a fence embodylng myinvention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view.

In the said drawings, the reference-numeral 1 denotes the sills, which rest upon stones or other supports in the ground and are arranged transversely to the fence-sections.

Upon each sill is placed a post formed of two parallel sections, 2, which rest on the central portlon'of the sill. Between said sections 2 arelaid the ends of the fence-rails 4, alternating one with another in the adjacent sections and at the ends of the line of fence sepa rated by blocks 5.

p Connected to the upper end of each postsection 2 is a wire, 6, which is then carried over the upper rail, 4, and then down to the end of the sill 1, where it is passed through a staple, 7, projecting from the vertical face of the sill and carried thence to a bolt or staple,

8, to which its end is attached. A similar wire, 9, is connected to the other post-section 2, and crossed above the upper fence-rail, 4, whence it is carried down to the sill and ate tached in the manner described,the two wires 6 and 9 crossing each otherl above the upa per rail and having bends bearing directly upon the top edges of the 4uppermost rails to press and hold the latter down, and thereby bind all the rails tightly one upon the other, to prevent their vertical movement and provide a rm, rigid, and substantial structure. To produce a high tension upon these wires I drive wedges 10 between the sill and those portions of the wires lying between the staples 7 and the bolts or staples 8. To firmly secure the staples 7 and the bolts or staples 8 and prevent their withdrawal, they are preferably passed entirely through the sill and clinched or headed.

Connected to one of the post-sections 2 is a wire, 12, which is thence carried diagonally downward over the faces of the fence-rails, to each one of which it is connected by an eye or staple, 13, its endbeing attached to a staple or spike, 14, driven through the lower rail into the sill, as shown in Fig. 1.

This method of trussing the fence gives a structure having great strength and durability and enables the wires to be tightened at any time by driving the wedges farther or by insert ing larger wedges.

When the fence is complete, rail-riders 4u are laid at the top, their ends resting between the ends of the postsections 2 and lying upon the crossed ends of the trussing-wires 6 and 9. The weight of these rail-riders 4fL constantly applies a strain upon these wires, and as the fence is used they naturally tend to retain it in astrong, stiff, and properly-braced condition. By the riders being looseto gravitate downward and resting upon the upper sides of the crossed parts of the independent wires 6 and 9, the lower sides of the crossed parts of the wires are constantly pressed upon the uppermost rail, and as the ends of the rails rest directly one upon the other the fence is self-tightening, so that the weight of the riders by the crossed wires hold the rails in contact with each other, and the strain on'the independent wire-s 6 and 9 constantly tends to draw the two sections of a post together.

To each of the posts is attached a wire girdle, 15, placed between two of the lower rails and encircling the two sections forming the post, whereby the same are held firmly together to give a stiif longitudinal connection to the several sections of fence and prevent the separation of the post-sections when lateral strain is imposed upon the rails. The crossing of the truss-wires 6 and 9 at the top accomplishes the same function above as the wire girdlesl do below, so far as the means for drawing the postisections 2 together are concerned.

ICO

inserted between each pair of said connections and between the wire and the sill, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my Signature in presence of two witnesses.

ED'WARD A. WELDS.

Vitnesses:

JAMES L. NORRIS, JAMES A. R'UTHERFORL. 

